- (301) 829-0060
- Mt. Airy, MD
- info@pestshieldinc.com
Pest Shield, Inc. (MDA #30263) has provided termite inspection and treatment across Frederick County since 2011, with over 75 years of combined pest management experience on staff. Owner Troy Yowell brings approximately 35 years in the field — including pest management work on U.S. military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan — and on-staff entomologist Jeffrey Allwine provides species-level diagnostic expertise that most residential pest control companies have to outsource. Pest Shield has earned 338+ five-star reviews on Google and HomeAdvisor, the Best of Frederick MD Pest Control award (2021), and Best of Nextdoor recognition four consecutive years (2021–2024).
How it works
Four steps. No surprises. Same answer whether it's your first call or your tenth.
You reach Troy or someone on his team directly. No call center, no dispatcher, no routing.
Same-day or next-day for most calls. Emergency stinging-insect situations and real-estate WDI deadlines get priority.
We identify the species, locate entry points, and find the source — not just the symptom.
Written recommendation, straightforward pricing, no obligation. If you don't need treatment, we'll tell you.
Subterranean termites — specifically Reticulitermes flavipes, the eastern subterranean termite — are the primary termite species in Maryland, and eastern Frederick County’s clay-heavy soils create conditions that favor them year-round. Clay retains moisture, and moisture is what termite colonies need to forage, survive, and expand. Wooded residential lots in New Market add organic material and ground contact that colonies exploit. The problem is that most of the damage happens out of sight, inside walls, floor joists, and crawl spaces, long before anything visible alerts a homeowner.
The signs that do surface are worth knowing:
One-time visual inspection by a homeowner rarely captures the full picture. Termite colonies in Frederick County homes often establish in crawl spaces, beneath concrete slabs, or along buried wood debris — areas that require a trained inspection to assess. By the time surface signs appear, structural damage is frequently already underway.
60+ years of combined experience. Tell us what you’re seeing — we’ll come look, no obligation.
Troy came out immediately to look at our house and did find termites, he was very professional, friendly and made us feel very comfortable; he explained everything to us; we had did some comparsion shopping with other companies and didn’t get the comfortable feeling with the other companies, Pest Shield was by far the best, I would recommend Pest Shield to anyone, they are a company that you can trust to have your best interest at heart. Troy was the best.
Linda Allen · July 2014 Read on HomeAdvisor →
Troy seems to genuinely like what he does and to educate his customers. He came to appointment ahead of time, explained things thoroughly, even taking me to crawl space under house to show where termites were entering house. Price was very competitive: price per linear foot was lower than other company and estimator from other company had included perimeter of a shed which, from my understanding, should not have been included because shed has no foundation, so not subject to invasion by termites. Work performed on time and as advertised. As indicated by others, a knowledgeable, competent and honest gentleman.
Otto Louis-Jacques · December 2015 Read on HomeAdvisor →
Troy was very friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. He was able to work with my historic home (with difficult access) and treat for my termite infestation. He was very reasonable with cost as compared to other quotes, especially the big pest companies (which I would not recommend). He was incredibly respectful of my newly planted grass and garden (as he had to maneuver his supplies through it to treat). He even helped to troubleshoot a leak in that part of the house. His communication was very clear and thorough as well. Initial inspection and treatment were prompt! Would definitely recommend.
Julia · May 2022 Read on Google →
General pest & rodent control
Every termite engagement starts with a free inspection. Troy or Jeffrey Allwine — Pest Shield’s on-staff entomologist — examines the interior, exterior, crawl space, and any accessible structural framing to assess the scope of activity and identify where colonies are entering. Troy is documented walking homeowners directly into crawl spaces to show them exactly where termites are gaining access, and explaining what the evidence means before any treatment decision is made. That inspection is the foundation of everything that follows.
When treatment is warranted, Pest Shield delivers it under the Termite Warranty Plan using Termidor® HE — a professional-grade termiticide applied as a continuous treated zone around the foundation perimeter, porch slabs, and garage areas. The application process:
Termidor HE works through a transfer effect: termites that contact the treated zone carry the active ingredient back to the colony and pass it to nestmates through normal social behavior. The colony doesn’t detect the product and doesn’t avoid it. This mechanism is why Termidor HE eradicates entire colonies — not just foraging workers — within 90 days of treatment. The product’s residual remains active in the soil for 15+ years, providing long-term protection against new colony establishment.
The Termite Warranty Plan covers the full treatment with a 100% effective guarantee and a lifetime renewable warranty — meaning the protection doesn’t expire as long as the warranty is kept current. There are no annual inspection requirements built into the plan; the warranty is renewable on the homeowner’s terms. For New Market homes with crawl spaces, pier-and-beam construction, or older foundations, this structure removes the long-term uncertainty that a one-time treatment without warranty coverage leaves open.
Termidor HE is an EPA-registered termiticide applied to soil around the exterior of the structure — not broadcast inside the home. Troy advises on any property-specific precautions at the time of treatment. For homes with gardens, pets, or children, the exterior soil application keeps the product out of living spaces entirely. Treatment is performed by MDA-licensed applicators (MDA #30263, MD Certified #19058) in compliance with Maryland Department of Agriculture pesticide regulations.
To request a free inspection, call (301) 829-0060 or use the contact form on this page.
Owner
Founded Pest Shield in 2011 after years as a pest management contractor on U.S. military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan. Around 35 years in pest management. Personally handles or leads the majority of service calls.
Pest Management Specialist
Field technician handling residential and commercial service calls across Frederick, Carroll, and Montgomery counties.
Pest Management Specialist
Field technician handling residential and commercial service calls across the service area.
Our Entomologist
Consulting entomologist on species identification, conducive conditions, and treatment strategy for difficult cases.
New Market sits in eastern Frederick County along the US-40 corridor, roughly between Frederick and Mount Airy, with I-70 running through the southern edge of the community. The surrounding landscape is a mix of wooded residential lots, agricultural land, and older subdivisions — a combination that creates consistent subterranean termite pressure throughout the area. Pest Shield is based in Mount Airy and serves New Market as part of its Frederick County core territory, with same-day and next-day scheduling standard for inspection requests.
Eastern Frederick County’s clay-dominant soils hold moisture well into dry seasons, giving subterranean termite colonies the humidity they need to forage aggressively and expand. Homes with crawl spaces — common in older New Market neighborhoods — present multiple soil-to-wood contact points that colonies exploit. Properties bordering wooded areas or agricultural fields face additional pressure as termites forage outward from established colonies in surrounding ground. Spring swarm season, typically March through May in this region, is when most New Market homeowners first notice activity — and when scheduling a pest control inspection in New Market becomes especially timely.
Termite treatment pricing is based primarily on the linear footage of your home’s foundation perimeter — the more perimeter that requires treatment, the higher the cost. Troy provides a written estimate after the free inspection, and his price per linear foot has been documented as competitive with or lower than other local and national providers. He charges exactly what he quotes; if the job turns out simpler than anticipated, the invoice reflects that. The free inspection is the starting point — there’s no cost to find out what you’re dealing with.
The Termite Warranty Plan covers Pest Shield’s one-time Termidor HE treatment with a 100% effective guarantee and a lifetime renewable warranty — meaning your protection doesn’t have a fixed expiration date as long as the warranty is kept current. The Termidor HE residual itself remains active in the soil for 15+ years, and the warranty structure is designed to match that long-term protection window. If you have questions about renewal terms specific to your property, Troy addresses those directly at the time of treatment.
Troy or Jeffrey Allwine — Pest Shield’s on-staff entomologist — inspects the interior, exterior, crawl space, and accessible structural framing of your home. They’re looking for mud tubes, damaged or hollow-sounding wood, swarmer evidence, moisture conditions, and any soil-to-wood contact points that create vulnerability. Troy is known for taking homeowners directly into the crawl space to show them exactly where termites are entering and what the evidence looks like — you leave the inspection understanding what was found, not just receiving a report. The inspection is free, with no obligation to proceed with treatment.
Termidor HE works through a transfer effect: termites that contact the treated soil zone carry the active ingredient back to the colony and pass it to nestmates through normal grooming and feeding behavior. Because termites can’t detect or avoid the product, the entire colony — not just the foragers — is exposed. Colony eradication typically occurs within 90 days of treatment. You do not need to vacate your home during treatment; Termidor HE is applied to the soil around the exterior foundation perimeter, not inside the living space. Troy advises on any property-specific precautions at the time of service.
Swarmers inside the house — especially near windows or light sources in spring — are a strong indicator of an active subterranean termite colony in or immediately adjacent to your home’s structure. Don’t treat it as a minor nuisance: collect a few of the insects or their discarded wings if you can (a sealed bag works fine) and call Pest Shield at (301) 829-0060 to schedule a free inspection. A WDI (wood-destroying insect) inspection is a separate, documented inspection required for real estate transactions — VA loans, refinances, and home sales — that produces a written report for the lender or buyer. Pest Shield performs both; if you’re in a transaction with a deadline, Troy has accommodated same-day and next-day scheduling for time-sensitive closings.
